An entertaining, action-packed retelling of Arthurian legend.
A boy in Camelot embarks on a dangerous journey to retrieve a magical weapon in this debut YA fantasy.
Having just arrived in the kingdom of Camelot, where his father has become a blacksmith, 12-year-old Arty is thrilled to see King Uther Pendragon’s knights practicing in the arena. Though not of noble caste, Arty is determined to become a knight one day. He soon makes friends with other boys (as well as Guinevere, or Gwen) who share his ambition; a natural leader, Arty organizes training sessions for his crew and sets up a round table for planning strategy. When a fearsome dragon attacks Camelot, Sir Marcus Junius Brutus proves himself an impressive champion whom Arty hero-worships. Before long, though, Brutus morphs into his true form, the evil wizard Merlin, and claims Camelot’s throne. Breaking the orb on Merlin’s staff can defeat him but can only be done with an ancient magical weapon in an older witch’s keeping. Arty rallies his “small ragtag band of misfit knights” to brave the perilous Forest of the Forsaken on a quest that will test him in three difficult trials and reveal the truth of his birth. In his book, Jauregui pairs his legendary setting with contemporary dialogue (such as “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful, Percy”) and characterization. It’s a technique familiar from animated films like Disney’s Frozen (2013) but less common in novels, possibly jarring some readers. That said, the author deftly weaves traditional and unexpected elements together, as with scenes in the Lady of the Lake’s elaborate underwater palace. Several cinematically vivid, well-orchestrated action sequences also enliven the story, including a joust; attacks by creatures like death phantoms and lizard warriors; and a hammer-and-tongs battle with Merlin.
An entertaining, action-packed retelling of Arthurian legend.Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73-553068-0
Page Count: 244
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: June 6, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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